Capehart Forest Restoration

The Capehart forest restoration project

The Capehart Forest restoration project represents one of the largest and most exciting additions to Discovery Parks open space in recent memory.Since the early 60’s the 30-acre site has been filled with over 60 prefabricated military homes and owned by the Navy. With its security fencing, no-trespassing signs, and very central location, it represented a significant detraction from the Park as a place to enjoy the out of doors.

Thanks to the support and advocacy of members of Friends, the City was able to purchase this site from the Navy for use as public park space in 2010 for approximately $13 million. Since the City took ownership, all manmade structures have been demolished and removed. Intensive restoration efforts have been focused on the cleared site, primarily by volunteer planting crews working with Green Seattle Partnership. Many thousands of native shrubs and trees have been planted in an effort to build high-quality forested wildlife habitat. Although temporary fencing continues to surround the site, it is scheduled to be opened to the public by late 2018 or early 2019. In the meantime, progress continues on the construction of two public access trails running through the site which connect the North parking lot, Daybreak Star and the South Bluff trail. Signage along the trails will remind visitors to stay on the trail and to keep their dogs leashed. Several other improvements to the sites wildlife habitat potential are also planned. Funding for these projects has been made available thru the Seattle Parks Foundation and the City’s Department of Neighborhoods grant program.